Young Hereford breeder Lachlan Bacon, Ownaview Herefords, Upper Freestone won Most Potential Breeder at the Herefords Queensland Youth Association Show (HQYA), adding a Te-Angie registered heifer to his stud.
University of New England student Grace Collins, Armidale, NSW, was runner-up.
Held at the Dalby showgrounds from 29 June to 2 July , the event drew 57 participants from throughout Queensland and northern NSW, including a truck load of 24 heifers and handlers from Te-Angie Poll Herefords, Wongwibinda, NSW.
Over the four days, the young cattle handlers participated in educational workshops, along with paraders and judging competitions.
They also visited Mort & Co’s Grassdale feedlot, which is Australia’s largest.
Lachlan Bacon has participated in the Hereford Youth program since he was 10 and runs the stud in partnership with his brother Riley.
The brothers also won the champion-bred and -owned animal of the show, while pee wee competitor Lane Passmore, Clifton was awarded supreme champion of the show, with a Callaway heifer provided by the Duthie family, Irvingdale, QLD.
Tom York, Jackson was the grand champion herdsman and Riley Bacon the reserve champion, while grand champion junior judge was Willow Gilliland and reserve grand champion Tom York.
Grace Collins was grand champion parader and Riley Bacon reserve, while grand champion public speaker was Abby Dwight-Nowland, Toowoomba and reserve was Dougall Skene.
In the pee wee division of junior judging, Willow Gilliland was first, Charlie Potts second and Jacob Schmaling third.
Jorja Kirkland won the juniors with Clare Cox second and Ellie Baker third.
In the intermediates, Grace Newcombe was first, Riley Bacon second and Sierra Martin third.
Tom York won the seniors, with Lachlan Bacon second and Kelsie Wilkes third.
In the paraders, Lane Passmore won the pee wee, Willow Gilliland second and Luke Schmaling third.
Emily Ballon won the juniors, with Layne Martin second and Myles Gilliland third. Riley Bacon won the intermediates with Khloe Edwards second and Grace Newcombe third.
Grace Collins won the seniors while Lachlan Bacon was second and Holly Speers third.
HQYA president Aleacea Nixon and secretary Mitchell Portbury backed up from last year to again share the Queensland Ambassador award for their efforts organising the camp.
Aleacea said the cold weather failed to deter a strong number of young handlers and balloted cattle.
“Our biggest feedback was the kids had a lot of fun, which is what we want to hear,“ she said. “We had some great talks and donated prizes.
“Our numbers have picked up this year and the camp has changed location (from Millmerran to Dalby).
“We had Andrew Lynn, principal research scientist from the University of New England to talk on the influence of genetics on meat eating quality and the kids got to see Remolea Poll Hereford steak prepared at a local butcher for taste testing.
“There was a big focus on practising for paraders, while the seniors and intermediates visited the 70,000 head Mort & Co Grassdale feedlot.”
The HQYA committee has grown from five to 12 with strong interest in the youth program.
